Marilyn Monroe’s Personal Casual Summer Dress
An olive green double-ply silk jersey sleeveless dress; interior label reads: “Walter Bass/Design.”
Marilyn’s Daywear: Marilyn being a native West Coast girl loved bright colors and easy sporty shapes when she wasn’t being “Marilyn Monroe” the film star. From the brilliantly-colored Capri pants, tight as a second skin, with matching easy shirts Marilyn bought in multiples, to her sporty little dresses, white shirts and chino pants from sportswear label Walter Bass, her daywear was a microcosm of East and West Coast American fashion from the mid-fifties to the early sixties.
This casual daywear dress represents Marilyn relaxed; she’d left the film star image at home and she was at play far from the fans, reading her books, studying her scripts or just hanging out. The design of this dress is so timeless it looks perfectly up to date today. Increasingly, as time went by, Marilyn wore brighter colors, cut into easier shapes than the hourglass dresses of her early years as an emerging film star. She could afford to look, and be, relaxed in fine cotton drill and gabardine and lightweight wools. The very ordinariness of this dress meant that she could walk the streets of New York or L.A. without being recognized.
This dress was to have been sold originally at the 1999 Christie’s Auction: The Personal Property of Marilyn Monroe, and is prominently displayed on page 105 of the auction catalog as part of lot #132 (see photo above). Two Christie’s tags are still pinned to the garment. Ultimately, this Marilyn Monroe dress sold at the 2005 Julien’s Auction: Property from The Estate of Marilyn Monroe.
Property from the Estate of Marilyn Monroe
June 4, 2005
Collector’s Note
This green silk jersey dress by Walter Bass represents an intimate and authentic example of Marilyn Monroe’s private wardrobe during the final years of her life. Walter Bass was among the designers whose work reflected the emerging American aesthetic of refined yet practical sportswear, and Marilyn’s ownership of this piece demonstrates her appreciation for clothing that balanced elegance with comfort.
Unlike the constructed costumes associated with her film roles, garments such as this were chosen by Marilyn for her daily life, allowing her to move freely beyond the expectations of her public image. The fluidity of the silk jersey fabric and the simplicity of the design reflect her preference for garments that complemented her natural form without unnecessary ornamentation. These qualities align with her broader shift toward personal independence and self definition during her New York and post studio years.
Preserved as part of Marilyn Monroe’s estate, this dress offers rare and meaningful insight into the private individual behind the global icon. It stands as a tangible record of her lived experience, revealing her personal taste, her embrace of modern American design, and her deliberate cultivation of a wardrobe that served her as Marilyn the woman rather than Marilyn the constructed star. Today, it remains an important artifact within The Marilyn Monroe Collection and contributes to the ongoing preservation of her personal and cultural legacy.
Interestingly, stains and a slight discoloration are present under the arms on this dress, perhaps a result of being worn on hot New York summer days.
Scott Fortner
Marilyn Monroe Collection
Founder & Owner
@mariylnmonroecollection 
TheMarilynMonroeCollection